Another Jazz Cyclone Hits the Front Range | Norman Provizer Jazz Notes

Earlier this month, saxophonist John Ellis focused on his bass clarinet playing with drummer Rudy Royston’s chamber-music-oriented Flatbed Buggy band. This week, Ellis reappears on two occasions with pianist Peter Stoltzman’s Spiral Inward effort. On Friday, Ellis, Stoltzman, drummer Dru Heller and bassist Gonzalo Teppa are at Dazzle, 1512 Curtis, at 7 p.m. (303-839-5100). Before the group is at Dazzle, the band (with the same lineup) stops by the Muse Performance Space in Lafayette 200 E. South Boulder Rd., on Thursday at 7 p.m.

Born in North Carolina, Ellis found his own muse when he moved to New Orleans and discovered a second musical muse when he resettled in New York. He spent a good deal of time with guitarist Charlie Hunter; and in 2002, Ellis placed second in the Thelonious Monk Institute’s saxophone competition behind Seamus Blake.

Back at Dazzle, on Sunday, Brazilian guitarist Diego Figueiredo, who has played with the Brazilian greats and jazz masters like Larry Coryell, goes solo at 6 and 8:30 p.m. And at the Muse, the Latin sound of Miguel Espinoza and Flamenco Fusion is on stage on Saturday at 6 and 8:30 p.m.    In addition, the Muse is home to the best weekly jazz session, Sundays 7p until 10p led by Brad Goode and Pete Lewis.

Also at Dazzle, pianist Rob Mullins celebrates the release of his 35th disc with a trio that has Will Lyle on bass and Mark Marlier on drums. The Oklahoma-born pianist moved to Denver when he was 14 and went to the University of Northern Colorado and began recording several albums before heading for L.A.  Mullin’s versatility has been on display while working with the Crusaders for three years, as well with Branford Marsalis, Kirk Whalum, and Ronnie Laws.

Dazzle also offers up trombonist/singer Natalie Cressman and guitarist/singer Ian Faquini on Tuesday. Cressman has worked with folks like Anat Cohen and Wycliffe Gordon and the duo plays at 7 p.m.  On Wednesday, Dazzle has singer Maria Ho with Andre Vogt, Bijoux Barbosa, Todd Reid, and Eric Gunnison.

At Nocturne, 1330 27th St, the musical week that starts on Thursday has guitarist Dave Corbus looks inside Ornette Coleman with John Gunther on saxophone. Then there’s Mark Diamond on Friday, Brian Claxton on Saturday and trumpeter Charlie Porter on Tuesday.

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